Detachable support platform for vehicle hoists



Patented Sept. 14, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DETACHABLE SUPPORT PLATFORM FOR VEHICLE HOISTS The present invention relates to an attachment for vehicle hoists and the like and more particularly to an attachment adaptable to provide a supporting platform for a vehicle jack. Modern vehicle hoists as used in most filling stations and garages conventionally provide a controllably raisable platform or wheel support tracks on to which the vehicle is initially run, and thereafter the platform is raised to elevate the vehicle and permit work on the under parts thereof or for other reasons. In many instances when the vehicle is in .a raised position on such a platform it is desirable to elevate one or more portions of the vehicle above the platform. This is most commonly done to raise one Wheel of the vehicle free of the wheel support track.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sturdy supporting platform which may be readily attached to or detached from the supporting platform of the hoist.

The ease of attachment and detachment of a structure embodying the present invention is one of its primary advantages. A detachable supporting platform embodying the present invention which is sturdy enough to support the weight of any vehicle is substantially lighter than, and much smaller than, other devices now in use for similar purposes. The ease of attachability and the light Weight and small size of the structure permit speedy and convenient use of the structure. The supporting platform can'be readily moved from one section of the hoist to another to permit quick successive elevation of different portions of the vehicle supported by the hoist, thus providing a great saving in labor and time.

By employing a detachable supporting platform embodying the present invention the mechanic can at all times assume a comfortable working position. The detachable supporting platform embodying the present invention may be installed or removed while the mechanic is in a standing position. Moreover the detachablesupporting platform can be installed and then the hoist raised or lowered to any elevation which will provide a comfortable Working position for the mechanic.

It is the further object of the present invention to provide a detachable supporting platform which will promote safety and accuracy. A mechanic can operate a jack supported by the detachable platform from a standing position and can readily observe the jack action and movement of the vehicle as it is raised. There is no necessity for the mechanic to leave the immediate vicinity of the hoist to operate the holst mechanism itself, nor is there any necessity for kneeling or bending to observe the underside of the vehicle to see if the vehicle will descend and locate itself properly on the jack as the hoist is lowered. Further there is no necessity for the mechanic to speculate as to how much the vehicle has actually been raised or lowered by the jack. This is especially important and essential when attempting to line up the apertures for inserting a spring pin into the proper position.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device which will accomplish substantial savings in time and space. More than one man can easily and conveniently be employed at the same time, each working on separate parts of the vehicle. Moreover there is no necessity of moving the vehicle from the hoist to another location in order to raise one of the Wheels into a free or non-supported position.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a structure which eliminates the necessity of the employment of a free wheeling hoist. In other words, a hoist which raises the vehicle above the ground by supporting it through other portions than the Wheels. The free Wheeling hoist is undesirable in that it is diiiieult to work beneath the vehicle when it is supported on such a free wheeling hoist and excess time is often employed in properly locating the vehicle over the free wheeling hoist prior to its elevation. Although a device embodying the present invention does not permit the accomplishment of all the services rendered by a free wheeling hoist, it can be used to perform most of the operations ac complished while the vehicle is supported by a free wheeling hoist.

It is a further advantage of the structure embodying the present invention that it does not obstruct or reduce in any substantial way the working space in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle on the hoist. The attachable platform embodying the presentA invention is secured to only one side of the hoist runners and a me chanic can therefore freely move under the vehicle and can Work from either side or directly in front of thedetachable supporting platform without being obstructed by any other structure.

The detachable platform embodying the present invention may if desired remain secured to the vehicle hoist without interfering with or reducing the 'Working space adjacent to the hoist or the operation of the hoist. It can thus be con' veniently used for a tool or parts shelf.

It is another object of the present invention to assenza provide a structure that is of simple yet sturdy construction which employs a minimum of material and comprises no complex or delicate parts.

A device of the present invention may be employed whenever it is desired to support an auxiliary apparatus adjacent to a vehicle hoist. Its most common use however would be to act as a supporting platform for a lifting jack.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following description and drawing of one particular embodiment thereof. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an end view of the detachable supporting platform embodying the present invention mounted on the inner edge of one wheel support ftrack of a vehicle hoist. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a detachable supporting platform embodying the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the device in the collapsed position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 on Fig. 2 and,

Fig. 5 is a perspective viewV of the device.

As can be noted in Fig. 1 the detachable supporting platform is secured through the side edge II) of the wheel support track II of a conventional vehicle hoist.

In Fig. l a jack I2 is shown mounted on the detachable supporting platform and is in a posi- .tion to engage properly the under surface of the vehicle to be elevated by the jack.

The device such as the jack I2 to be supported by the detachable platform rests on the upper surface of the base plate I3. The base plate I3 is divided into two portions by the hinge I4. The supporting platform portion I 6 extends outwardly from the hinge I4 and the clamping portion I1 extends inwardly from the hinge I4.

Hingedly secured to the base plate I3 by hinge I4 is the supporting member I8. The inner holding portion I9 is shaped to the contour of the inner surface of the edge I0 of wheel support track II, thus the inner holding portion I9 of the supporting member I8 will nt snugly against the inner surface of edge I 0 of wheel support track I I.

Locking arms 2I are hingedly mounted to the supporting member I8 by hinge 22. As can be noted best from Fig, 5 the locking arms 2| extend downwardly from the hinge 22 and are connected together by cross member 23. The cross member i 23 is provided with a slot 24 into which ts lug 25 which is secured to base plate I3. and slot arrangement '24 and 25 helps to guide the movement of the locking arms 2I and the head 25a on lug 25 prevents' separation of the base plate I3 and cross member 23.

It should be noted that the inner surface of 21 of the locking arm 2I is arcuate in shape so that it will cam securely against the outer surface of the side edge I of the wheel support track I I.

In order to remove the detachable supporting platform from the wheel support of the hoist the base plate I3 is pivoted about hinge I4 and moved towards the support member I8 from the position shown in Fig. 2v to the position shown in Fig. 3. This same movement causes the lockingV arm 2I to pivot about hinge 22 causing the cross member 23 to move outwardly relative to the plate I3, and causing the locking surface 21 to disengage from the outer surface ofV edge I0 of This 111g 4 Wheel support track I I. When the device is in the collapsed position shown in Fig. 3, by lifting vertically, it can Vbe easily moved clear of the wheel support of the hoist unit.

To secure the detachable suppo-rt platform to the wheel support track II of the hoist unit the process is simply reversed and the inner holding portion I9 of the supporting member I8 is placed over the edge III of wheel support I I while theunt is in the collapsed position and then by pivoting the plate I3 away from the supporting member I8 the unit is securely locked in position.

It should be noted that to insure that the supy `ing action the distance between the hinge 22y and' the cam surface 21 of locking arm 2| should dif- 4fer from the distance between'the hinge 22 and the under surface of the inner molding portion I9 of support member I8 by substantially the thickness o-f the edge I0 of wheel support track It can therefore be seen that while the device is sturdy and readily supports large loads, it may be easily moved from one location on the wheel support member to another location by simply pivoting into the collapsed position and then sliding it down along the wheel support track II, if it is desired to keep it on the same wheely support member and on the same side. Otherwise it may simply be lifted olf and placed anywhere else.

Iclaim: Y Y

1. A detachable supporting platform for an automobile hoist having a wheel support track with substantially vertical, upwardlyextending,y

side edges, said detachable supporting platform comprising a base plate, an inverted U-shaped supporting member adapted to engage said side edges of the wheel support track and hingedly secured to said base plate at a point remote from either extreme edge of said base plate, said supporting member extending inwardly from its hinged connection with said base plate, said base plate having an inwardly extending portion adapted to engage the under surface of said wheel support track and an outwardly extending portion forming a platform; a locking,r arm hingedly secured to the outer depending varm of said U-shaped supporting member and having its inner end adapted to engage the outer surface of the` side edge of the wheel support track and having the outer end thereof slidably secured to the outwardly extending portion of said base plate.

2. A detachable supporting platform for an automobile hoist having a wheel support track with substantially vertical, upwardly extending, side edges, said detachable'supporting platforml 'comprising a base plate, an inverted U-shaped Asupporting member adapted to engage said side edges of the wheel support track and hingedly secured to said base plate at a point remote from leither extreme edge of said base plate, said supporting member extending'V inwardly from its :hinged connection with said base plate, said base plate having an inwardly extending portion adapted to engage the under surface of said wheel support track, andan ,outwardly .extending 2,689,022 5 6 Y portion forming a platform; two locking arms therein and including a lug secured to said base each hingedly mounted at a point remote from plate and adapted to engage in said slot. their extreme edges to the outer depending arm of said supporting member, said locking arms References Cited in the le of this patent *being connected by a cross member and said cross 5 FOREIGN PATENTS member be1ng s1ida,b1y secured to the outwardly Number Country Date extending portion of said base plate 7 244 Great Britain of 1909 3. A detachable supporting platform as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cross member has a slot 800'630 France of 1936 

